Trevor Williams’ Luminous Invading Forms are Actually Light Graffiti

Artist Trevor Williams and his Fiz-iks collective have been hitting Okayama, Japan with graffiti, but building owners needn’t worry because the brightly colored swirls and figures are made entirely with light! The three dimensional light paintings are captured with long exposure photography, creating gorgeous glowing imagery.

In one of Williams’ photographs, a giant glowing orb sits in a courtyard in front of an ancient Japanese temple. In the forest, three red squares hover, leaving glittery red trails that fall to the ground. Lasers explode over a man in a gas mask. Transparent red boxes are stacked around a traditional Japanese building, making their way inside. A glowing blue tornado whirls around a quiet street.

Yet none of the objects that obstruct the beautiful Japanese architecture and landscapes are real. The glowing forms, which appear to be light sculptures, are nothing more than trails of light, formed with a small light guided with the artist’s hand, captured by camera. Since the photographs’ exposure is so long, the quick gestural movements used to create each form leaves the artist almost invisible. Wearing dark clothing also ensures that none of the painted light is reflected on the artist’s clothing, giving his method away. The resulting photographs are totally fantastical, creating futuristic forms that invade the landscapes- but are never actually there.

Williams is a Canadian born artist who has called Japan home for the last nine years. Sometimes known as TDUB303, Williams and his crew have taken the long time art of light graffiti to the next level. Becoming a master of his craft, Williams has taken it upon himself to create tutorials on how to make incredible paintings with light. By using different shaped light bulbs, lamps and jerry-rigged tools, the light master explains how to create the patterned boxes, swirling globes, laser effects and sweeping funnels that adorn his photographs. The master of light invites creators world wide to try their hand at this incredible craft that requires no tactile materials.